Journal of Kinesiology & Wellness

Use of Sports as a Label in Google Scholar Profiles

2024-10-22T18:53:10+00:00

Author profiles in academic social media and database services are important research search, access, and promotion tools. This study documented the use and relevance of sports as research interest areas using the “label” function in Google Scholar Profiles. Profiles and citation metrics for the top twenty Google Scholar Citations Profiles were extracted for 22 sports and four sport terms. Citations to the top twenty profiles for each term were classified as relevant to that sport research interest label if there were at least four publications on that sport. The number of profiles using any of the 22 sport terms varied widely (CV = 122%), ranging from 22 for fencing to 549 for football/soccer. The mean (SD) relevant profiles across sports were 40 (17) percent and less variable (CV = 43%) than the citation metrics. There were moderate to strong associations in five of the six pairwise correlations. Several results indicate that use of specific sports as research areas with the label function to search Google Scholar Profiles should be interpreted cautiously. Many profiles using a sport as a label may not be related to the majority of highly cited publications on that sport. The number of profiles and citations to profiles related to sport keywords support previous research reporting large variation in citations using common kinesiology subdisciplines and research terms as labels for searches of Google Scholar Citations.

Changing Language and University Students' Exercise Motivations

2024-10-22T16:54:10+00:00

Typically, and without a pandemic, one-quarter of adults do not get appropriate physical activity. Amid government restrictions and public gathering closures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, this study's objective sought to understand motivations for physical activity among university students. Participants of 147 undergraduate (n = 102) and graduate (n = 45), including most females (n = 118), completed the Rickel Value Inventory (RVI), which consisted of seventeen Likert-scale inventory questions and a ranking of top motivators for participation in physical activity. The results indicated that during the COVID-19 pandemic, participants preferred objective or extrinsic motivators for engaging in physical activity, such as weight management and maintaining physical health, than subjective or intrinsic motivators associated with self-fulfillment. University sports managers and physical activity leaders should incorporate language reflective of objective/extrinsic in addition to subjective/intrinsic motivation and methods in advertising, teaching, and scheduling to increase and maintain exercise motivation and adherence.

A Preliminary Study to Explore Muscular Strength and Neuromuscular Control Differences in Elementary-aged Children

2024-11-13T01:55:41+00:00

This study explored differences in muscular strength (MusS) and neuromuscular control (NC) among elementary-age children in various demographics. Second-, third-, and fourth-grade children (n = 248; males n = 121; females n = 127) were selected from two Texas public schools. A nonrandomized cross-sectional approach was used to evaluate two unilateral strength tests (Dynamometer Grip and Single-Leg Three-Hop), two bilateral strength tests (Push-Up and Vertical Jump), and one neuromuscular control test (Side Step). The children improved as they advanced in grade on the unilateral grip test (p < .001), the unilateral hop test (p < .001), and the neuromuscular control test (p < .001). Males outperformed females on the unilateral grip test (p = .002), unilateral hop test (p < .001), and vertical jump test (p < .001). White children outperformed Hispanic children on the unilateral grip test (p = .007) and the push-up test (p < .001). The only MusS interaction showed that second-grade boys scored the highest on the push-up test (p < .001). An NC difference was found for grade (p < .001), showing that children's mean sidestep scores improved as the grades advanced. These findings suggest regular MusS and NC testing in children and a more comprehensive look at the demographic factors that influence the physical activity disparities in children's MusS and NC development.

Is there Proprioceptive Comfort?

2025-03-19T00:42:14+00:00

Sensory comfort, the idea that certain stimuli lead to positive feelings (e.g., calmness, relief, joy), has been well established for 'external' senses like vision and audition. However, despite 'internal' senses such as proprioception, the sense behind one's body position and movement, being well studied, their respective sensory comfort (and perhaps the lack of) has been virtually unexplored. Here, previous work related to the potential of proprioceptive comfort is reviewed to provide context as to whether proprioceptive comfort truly exists. From the basis of sensory comfort provided by body movement, pain relief, proprioceptive art, and their relationships with proprioception, the argument is made that proprioceptive comfort does exist. This opens the door for research expanding on its characteristics and having major implications for supplementing and revitalizing proprioceptive comfort in individuals with impaired proprioception.